Cesar Puello

On the heels of a career-best 2013 season at Double-A that ended with a 50-game suspension for his connection to Biogenesis, Puello regressed in a big way upon getting his first taste of Triple-A. Acr...

Puello was suspended 50 games on August 5 for his ties to the Biogenesis clinic, ending his 2013 campaign prematurely. In 90 games at Double-A Binghamton, he slashed .328/.405/.550 with 16 homers, 73 RBI, 63 runs scored and 25 stolen bases. While his numbers improved across the board, the growth as accompanied by a 62-point spike in BABIP, so his batting average may be unsustainable. In addition, this is the third straight season that he failed to play a full complement of games, which is something he needs to prove he can to do to be counted on. Puello could open 2014 back at Double-A, but should advance to Triple-A quickly and could see Citi Field by the end of the season.

2013

Puello's season was limited to 227 at-bats at High-A due to a hand injury, and the results around that ailment were hardly spectacular. To this point, Puello has shown an inability to draw walks (three percent in 2012) which combined with his low contact rate (74 percent) makes it difficult to use his best tool -- speed. On the basepaths, Puello went 19-for-21 this season in that limited workload, which bodes very well for fantasy owners long term if he is able to improve his eye, or put an increased number of balls in play at some point. His offseason league work showed similar results in the Arizona Fall League and Dominican Winter League, so Puello may need to repeat High-A for a couple of months in 2013 before getting his first taste of Double-A.

2011

Puello played in Low-A Savannah last season as a 19-year-old. He went on a tear in the second half of the year, batting .346/.424/.430 before seeing his season end in mid-August with a strained lower back. That tear coincided with a change in his batting stance, which allowed Puello to be more upright at the plate and have a shorter distance for his hands to go to drive the ball. Puello is a five-tool player, with speed being his greatest asset right now and power expected to come as he matures. He is slated to start to 2011 at High-A St. Lucie and his strike-zone judgment as well as his bat will determine how quickly he rises in the Mets' system.